Microsoft to cut 150 jobs in UK

Microsoft is to cut 5% of its UK workforce, about 150 jobs, in the latest stage of the technology giant's plan to slash 5,000 posts worldwide in the first radical cutbacks in the company's 34-year history.

At the time of the first round of cuts, which saw the departure of approximately 1,400 workers, it was estimated that about 60 jobs would go in the UK.

Microsoft has said today that a further 5% of the UK's 2,880 staff – almost 150 positions – will go in the next stage of the restructuring. A spokesman said that the second phase of the cutback programme does not add to the overall number of jobs affected in the UK or worldwide.

"As part of the plan we announced in January to reduce costs and increase efficiencies, today Microsoft is commencing consultation to remove additional positions across several areas of the company," said a spokesman for Microsoft UK. "A number of UK positions are affected, representing about 5% of the 2,880 people currently based in the UK."

The company spokesman said that there was a need to "rebalance resources against our priorities in the current climate".

"We will continue to evaluate our business to ensure that our investments are aligned to current and future revenue opportunities," he said. "We believe in the strength of the company, our ability to continue delivering value to customers and our approach to long-term growth."

The Microsoft chief executive, Steve Ballmer, has called the downturn forced the historically resilient technology company to make drastic cuts a "once-in-a-lifetime set of economic conditions".